Anna Winn joins Zion staff

Rosie Bates has retired from her position as director of Zion's children's choir. She's been at it for 50 years, 47 here at Zion! A miracle and a great gift. We'll celebrate Rosie during and after worship on Sunday, September 14.

In recent years, Rosie has directed the children's "Alleluia" choir and lead rehearsals on Wednesday evenings during Alleluia, Zion's mid-week faith formation time for kids. She has been faithful and dedicated in her ministry, clearly and wonderfully loving Zion's young people for literal generations. Rosie will continue to direct Zion's handbell choir.

Just this week, Anna Winn accepted a position on Zion's staff as children's music ministry director. She will gather Zion's young people for a 20-30 minute bible and music lesson after worship on Sundays, starting September 7. This will replace Wednesday evening Alleluia, as Alleluia's timing no longer meets the scheduling needs of a majority of Zion's families.

Anna is a daughter of Zion and a former singer in the children's choir Rosie led. Currently Anna teaches music in a nearby Illinois elementary school and this school year will become assistant director of that district's high school show choir.

God has richly blessed Zion through Rosie and God will richly bless Zion through Anna too. Thank you to both of them and most of all to God for sustaining Zion, our young people, and our ministry giving and receiving Christ's love. Thanks be to God!